PRESTO
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ods of manufacture, the introduction of piano-making machinery and
other conditions on this side, serve as life preservers of the American
industry, even if other conditions, in finance and economic life, were
not so different. In our country the fine old pianos are often the
ones that display the greatest life and vigor. They are in such demand
that selling price has very little to do with the volume of output, which
is as great as factory facilities will permit. And, over here, so great
a name as that of Brinsmead is over there possesses a commercial
value as great as its influence in art. It could not be permitted to die
with no other reason than that of manufacturing cost.
Under this head it is interesting to recall that when the Decker
Bros, piano was withdrawn from the trade there were many offers for
the name and good will. Two of the offers were for $50,000 and
$60,000 respectively. And there are other famous pianos still active in
the trade, that have brought as much or even more for the great, if
intangible value of a good name.
There is no danger of any Brinsmead fate exterminating any
old American piano. But the condition by which the London in-
dustry is abandoned, nevertheless, is filled with suggestion. It may
not serve as any warning to labor—probably will not—but it should
in some degree silence the cry, sometimes heard even over here, about
what the piano manufacturers are doing to elevate the already high
prices. As a matter of fact, the prices are not too high, if high enough.
For they have always been too low.
PLAYER ROLL INNOVATION
In these quick-moving times, the makers of music trade history
have ample opportunities for the exercise of their initiative. And of
course the progress of the playerpiano presents the most interesting
phases of the changes in the trade, and in the introduction of new
things and new ideas of its development.
A booklet just put forth by a great playerpiano industry is sug-
gestive of what has just been said; in fact suggested the saying of it.
It is a book upon a new plan and presenting the subject of playerpiano
music in a new way. And the originators of the way are the publicity
directors in the industry of the Gulbransen-Dickinson Company. The
book itself was reviewed in a recent issue of this paper.
From time running far back of the oldest music dealer now living,
it has been customary to find catalogues of the various publications
for the piano. Every sheet music publisher has put them forth, and
at one time a giant volume came out in which the publications of all
the publishers were listed between two covers. Of course, too, since
the playerpiano came into popular use, the manufacturers of music
rolls have issued lists and catalogues of their productions.
But it has remained for the Gulbransen-Dickinson Company to
compile the first general classified and descriptive catalogue of
player rolls. And the compilation is doubly remarkable because of
its evident unconsciousness of anything like partiality to particular
lines of rolls, or other consideration than to supply a convenient help
and guide. From the standpoint of high-class promotion of the in-
strument itself, therefore, it would be difficult to point to any innova-
tion associated with the trade that is better, if equally as good.
It is, of course, the new things that attract attention and create
the impression. It is the helpful novelty that wins approval because
the public is always in neec of the kind of direction that can only come
of experience. To the average dealer and his customers, a list of titles
in a music catalogue means little except in the case of already famous
pieces. But a book containing an unbiased topical index, with enter-
taining comments upon the purposes and fitness of the music de-
scribed, can not fail of being helpful.
The Gulbransen booklet contains the names of thousands of
player rolls of different manufacturers—song rolls included. And the
variety and scope of the lists is a significant proof of the place already
gained by the playerpiano in the world of music. It is such evidence
of up-to-dateness and skill in the application of ideas to the needs of
the times that insures progress and compels respect for a growing
line of industry.
DAYLIQHT=SAVINQ FOR DEALERS
Several of the cities of the United States have taken action,
through the initiative of their chambers of commerce, providing for
daylight-saving plans; so it would not be surprising if Congress should
reconsider the question and re-establish national daylight saving.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company is considering the adoption of
the daylight-saving plan, which has been adopted by New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore and other important cities, for the reason
February 12, 1920.
that it would be impracticable to provide train service based on two
standards of time.
More than 300 communities in New Jersey have gone on record
in favor of daylight-saving. Philadelphia, Hartford, Conn., and other
cities are effecting the change the last Sunday in March, and con-
tinuing until the last Sunday in October. Pittsburgh will hold to the
daylight-saving rule from the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday
in September. South Bend, Ind.; Cincinnati, Ohio; St. Joseph, Mich.,
and Erie, Pa., are among the cities that will adopt daylight-saving
as an all-summer rule.
Retail piano dealers and their salesmen, so far as a Presto repre-
sentative can learn after inquiring of several of them, favor the day-
light-saving plan. Many of the salesmen like the earlier quitting-
time in summer, as it gives them time to make garden, to play golf,
to go rowing or walking, to take a motor trip, or even to go far out
in the suburbs to see a customer whose remote residence had been a
cause of worry.
Trade press representatives in New York last week were amazed
at the activities of some mysterious individual whose name appeared
in the "flimsy" as "Mr. Blank." Sometimes the only method of
identification was in recognizing the speaker's style, and then, some-
times, Mr. Blank became some well known and fluent orator of the
convention. But the reporting was otherwise perfectly good and, in
the excitement of such a week, it could not have been expected that
accuracy would come first. It was a wonderful week and one that
all who participated in will never forget. And the trackless blizzard
must add to the remembrance of it.
*
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It is cause for more than usual regret that a progressive piano
industry should be the victim of fire at this time, when the demand
is so great as to be impossible of fulfillment. Such was the fate of
the Chute & Butler Company's fine plant at Peru, Indiana, which
was destroyed on Saturday last. But the pluck of the Chute & Butler
management will soon overcome the disaster and the fine Chute &
Butler pianos and players will soon again be forthcoming. Presto
extends its sympathies to President R. A. Edwards and Vice-Presi-
dent-Manager R. H. Bouslog, upon whose shoulders will rest the
responsibility of the rehabilitation.
* * *
The number of genuinely artistic American pianos increases
with the passing of time. And the West is gradually contributing
to this satisfactory condition. Today the city of Rockford, 111., has
a standing musically because the Haddorff piano is manufactured
there. The Haddorff presents one of the illustrations of the influence
of a really fine piano upon the fame of even a good-sized city. And
the Haddorff piano is now recognized by the trade everywhere as a
representative instrument of the first class. It has passed its experi-
mental period.
* * *
Nothing in connection with the Convention was more elabo-
rately impressive than the week's program of the American Piano
Co. and the Ampico. From a great display at the Music Show to a
special play by the late Dr. Cyrus Townsend Brady, the scene of
which was laid in "an Ampico salesroom" to several fine concerts
and a banquet of many guests, the American Piano Co. filled large
space in the week's events.
* * *
The carillon, which rang in the Music Show, added zest to the
occasion. The idea of elaborate bell chimes was proposed by the
late John McTammany, of player contention fame, for the San Fran-
cisco Exposition. But the carillon and its solemn suggestiveness is
almost as old as religion and dates back almost to the casting of the
first bells.
* * *
Some of the fine exhibits at the Music Show are described in
another place this week. Last week others had attention. The enter-
prise of the Kohler Industries, and associate enterprises, was on so
large a scale as to amaze visiting piano men. With such support as
the large piano industries extended the Show could not have been
short of a great event.
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We believe that it is fair to say without danger of being charged
with boastfulness, that Presto was the first trade paper to give an
account of the convention and music show in New York last week.
And the paper was not delayed a minute past its publication hour.
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